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Data Center Disruptions — Turbulence Followed by Boom

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The pandemic has expanded our use of many technologies. Web meetings, video calls, collaboration tools, streaming, online shopping, and many others have kept us safe and productive. What followed was an enormous demand for Internet Service Providers and data centers that support streaming services, cloud computing, content delivery, and video conferencing.  

While these demands drove urgent projects to increase capacity, private cloud and enterprise-related projects faced new headwinds. Many IT departments shifted to essential services, postponing system migrations, upgrades, and new deployments. The impact on the data center contractor depended on what their clients’ data centers supported.

We still see the impacts of this disruption, but what is becoming clear is that the service demands created by the pandemic will become long term. There are also new drivers for that demand to increase. Businesses will restart projects. They cannot be delayed indefinitely. Ultimately, the data center market will be driven to new highs.

The future of the data center remains bright. As businesses accept the long-term implications of the pandemic and sustainability of at-home workers is proven, investments that support this way of life will occur.

Drivers Accelerating Data Center Demand

Entertainment — A winter of limited entertainment options will drive content and gaming consumption. Families putting off a 4K investment, streaming service, or a new gaming system will be driven to do something to shake off the pending gloom of a pandemic winter. The latest home entertainment includes more 4K options and gaming subscriptions. This trend is accelerating with the PS5 Plus Collection, Nintendo Switch Store, and Xbox Game Pass.

5G — Apple is releasing its first 5G devices. In larger markets, faster consumption at the edge will drive greater demand at the core. Furthermore, we are relying on smartphones more while working remotely, and using them for backup connectivity during home network outages.

Social — Video chats, Zoom meetings, and sharing videos with family members is replacing family gatherings. Sadly enough, these services may even replace holiday visits for many Americans this year. While virtual gatherings are a poor substitute, post-pandemic, society will have grown comfortable with meeting family and friends this way, familiar with the technology, and ultimately more likely to use it long term.

Wi-Fi 6 — Lower latency and higher speeds will drive more consumption at the edge, increasing UHD viewing, and supporting more connected devices in businesses and homes.

Work from Home — Commercial buildings may be putting less strain on Internet Service Providers, but residential demand is up. We are working from home, learning at home, and streaming entertainment content all day long. You may not have been allowed to stream podcasts, music, or even your binge program at the office, but you are at home.

Enterprise Demand — Many workers have been sent home to work remotely. Some have chosen to do so forever. The pandemic has thrown the work-from-home trend into high gear and may become the future norm. While some technologies are hard to imagine today, VR collaboration solutions, dedicated HD conference systems, and virtual town hall meetings could be central components of tomorrow’s productivity improvements.

Building Automation — Remote monitoring and management has increased as a driver for building automation solutions. Reducing on-site facility staff is possible when building systems can be viewed and adjusted from home.

Smart Homes — We are receiving more at-home deliveries for our households and businesses. The value of those deliveries is increasing along with the demand to keep those deliveries safe. Remote entry systems such as MyQ, Amazon Key, and the related cameras are adding to home networks. Those systems also lead to more integrations with Google Nest, Alexa, Ring, and other home automation solutions for lighting, HVAC, and security.

It’s becoming clear that the pandemic has accelerated demand for many technologies. These technologies are likely to remain in higher demand post-pandemic. Once met by a return of full business operation, the data center’s consumer and enterprise sides will result in a boom in demand. The pandemic has disrupted data center business, but in many ways has created longer-term demand for growth.

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is Here. Are You Ready?

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Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is now available in enterprise-class, wireless access points and supported by some of the latest laptops and mobile devices. This new standard has several exciting benefits and is easy to adopt.

Benefits:

While any environment, whether home or office, will have improved performance with Wi-Fi 6, high-density environments with lots of users, devices and IoT will benefit the most.

  • Capacity: Notable performance improvements in dense environments like schools and offices. You can expect reduced latency and speeds of up to 4x compared to Wi-Fi 5 in dense environments. Single users will see around a 40% improvement in speed.
  • IoT: Ideal for large-scale IoT environments; low latency, Targeted Wake Time, and coverage in the 2.4 GHz band
  • Battery Life: Targeted Wake Time can reduce battery consumption for connected devices and IoT by as much as two thirds
  • Performance: Great for applications that demand performance like voice, gaming, and UHD streaming
  • Future: FCC approves 6 GHz band in April 2020. Wi-Fi 6E will bring speeds closer to the theoretical max of 9.6 GB/s. Devices will need 6GHz chipset to support that band.

Preparing for Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E:

Wi-Fi 6 operates in the same 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands as its predecessor, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Support for these bands means your new Wi-Fi 6 access points can provide the same range and ability to penetrate building materials as your previous access points. There’s no need to change their location or add more access points for coverage. The only real concern is to make sure your cabling is ready to support Wi-Fi 6 capacity.

Most manufacturers recommend Category 6A cabling to support PoE and data rates up to 10BASE-T. Although the first wave of Wi-Fi 6 products will require 2.5 or 5BASE-T, which could be supported by Category 5e or Category 6, later versions are expected to go beyond that capacity.

If you’re looking to upgrade your company’s Wi-Fi, check with your integrator to make sure your existing cabling meets your requirements.

Bringing 5G to Your Business

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By all accounts, 5G is expected to be a major breakthrough in high-speed mobility. Providers are touting connection speeds 20 times faster than 4G and greatly reduced latency. At Cable Plus, we like to take a practical approach and consider how this will impact our customers who install and manage the local networks that support these technologies. Our focus is on your premise and how soon you can expect this demand.

Outdoors, accessing the 5G network is simple. The public gains access to the 5G network through small cell wireless transmitters. In urban settings, where 5G will be most prevalent, the small cells are installed on light poles, utility poles, buildings, and other structures. They are placed near the demand. However, the 5G signal does not penetrate building materials or cover large areas.

In fact, 5G operates in a high-frequency range that has poorer performance passing through building materials than its predecessors, and a range of only 1,000 feet. Range and penetration characteristics will require building owners, enterprises, manufacturers, shipping yards, and sporting venues to bring the small cell coverage into their property.

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) will not support this because 5G requires active components. If you have an existing 4G small cell solution, you would need to upgrade the active equipment to support 4G and 5G. You may also need to upgrade the cabling, with Category 6A to the antennas and fiber from the switch to the radio controller. In either case, there is a considerable investment and would require a meaningful use case and ROI to justify.

Like rollouts of in-building wireless solutions 10 years ago, large public venues will quickly adopt this technology to improve connectivity for thousands and even tens of thousands of guests. 5G was made to support breathtaking mobile experiences such as augmented visualizations at sporting events or theme parks. One difference, or X factor, between now and 10 years ago, is the proliferation of intelligent devices at the edge. IoT for transit systems, autonomous transportation, manufacturing, and building automation can benefit greatly from the millisecond latency of 5G. This speed will open up new use cases which may cause broader, early adoption in those markets. As for the enterprise market, expect to see 5G small cell in new construction and adoption into existing buildings further out.

Now Hiring Assistant Controller

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Cable Plus, a leading distributor of wire & cable products, based in Naperville, Illinois, is looking for an assistant controller to manage all aspects of trial balance and general ledger and financial reporting.

Responsibilities:

  • Handle Monthly General Ledger Closing and Financial Statement Preparation.
  • Reconcile All Balance Sheet Accounts Monthly.
  • Maintain Control Over All Financial Transactions. 
  • Monthly State Sales Tax Prep.
  • Assist With Preparations For Annual Third Party Review of Financials and State & Federal Tax Return Preparation.

If interested, please send your resume to jmarsden@cableplusinc.com.

A Knowledgeable Distributor Can Save You Big

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Without the materials you need, where, and when you need them, your project grinds to a halt. This is the primary job of any distributor and a basic expectation. The real difference in distribution boils down to their knowledge, inventory, and services. In this post, we’re focusing on knowledge.

Product Knowledge

Do you need to give your account manager or sales representative a part number each time you order or ask about a product set? When you’re preparing a bill of materials, there are many parts to consider. A knowledgeable distributor knows the solutions, the manufacturers, and can help you select options that work best for your job and budget. They can even catch missing components and identify errors that could waste time on the job site.

Company Knowledge

How well does your distributor know your business and the customers you serve? Your distributor should be able to help ensure your bill of materials is appropriate for the environments you support as well as make recommendations that are standards-compliant.

Trusted Advice

When your distributor demonstrates expertise, they gain your trust. When you trust your distributor’s recommendation, you’re open to trying products that can save you time or perform just as well at a lower cost. With access to a variety of suppliers, and experience with the quality, differences, and similarities between the solutions, they can give you sound guidance.

At Cable Plus, we are passionate about providing great service and pride ourselves on our product knowledge and experience. Our knowledge helps us provide faster support, prevent mistakes, and improve your bottom line. We never try to sell you something you don’t need and make recommendations based on years of experience. Try the Cable Plus experience today and test our knowledge. Contact us here.